Typical Day of a Security Software Developer

Do you want to join a workforce that stands at roughly 1.2 million professionals? The United States employs the most cybersecurity professionals in the world, with a global workforce numbering 4.6 million, according to a 2022 Statista Research Department report.

The cybersecurity sector continues to boom, with a demand for security software developers who can create programming to combat modern cybersecurity threats. For their work, security software developers make on average six figures.

Pay and responsibilities vary depending on if you work in information, finance and insurance, management companies, computer systems design, and administration and support services.

Security software developers have different duties for their various work settings. This guide provides an inside glimpse into a typical day of a security software developer.

What Is a Security Software Developer?

Cybersecurity's history dates back to the 1970s when Ray Tomlinson developed Reaper, which is widely known as the first antivirus software developed to fight the Creeper virus.

Antivirus programming quickly developed to keep up with the widespread use of the Internet. Today, the worldwide cybersecurity industry is worth $173.5 billion in 2022, and projected to increase to $266.2 billion through 2027.

It should be no surprise in today's digital world that companies need security software developers, also called security developers or cybersecurity developers, to keep data private and secure systems.

No matter their title, security software developers work across different departments to create software solutions that promote security policies and standards. This work differs from information security analysts who install software to protect computer networks.

What Does a Security Software Developer Do?

What does a security software developer do daily? Security software developers design software to safeguard companies from data breaches, cyberattacks, and viruses. This may include developing traffic analysis, and intrusion and malware detection.

It can be a challenge to work in the deadline-driven atmosphere of software development. Security software developers may feel rushed to release software before the proper check and balances occur.

That said, if you have a strong background in computer programming and excellent analytical skills, you have what it takes to excel as a security software developer. With enough experience and education, you can advance from an entry-level position to a senior career in management. Although not a comprehensive list, your key duties will likely include what's noted below.

Main Duties of Security Software Developers

Nonstandard Duties for Security Software Developers

The Day to Day of a Security Software Developer

What you do each day as a security software developer depends on your employer. This schedule serves as an example of a typical day of a security software developer.

Keep in mind that the sector, size of the company, and your seniority influence your actual duties and schedule.

• 9 a.m.: Start your day, possibly with your beverage of choice. Turn on your monitors and check emails.
• 9:30 a.m.: Set your daily goals.
• 10:00 a.m.: Attend a video call with security teams to review, prioritize, and implement security solutions.
• 10:30 a.m.: Write code for vulnerabilities. Manage code releases. Implement countermeasures using industry solutions.
• 11 a.m.: Meet with stakeholders, developers, program management and marketing teams to scope solutions and understand your company's security needs.
• 11:30 a.m.: Oversee improvements and troubleshoot problems. Get real-time feedback from your peers.
• 12 p.m.: Catch up on industry news and trends.
• 12:30 p.m.: Grab lunch with coworkers at the nearby food truck.
• 1:30 p.m.: Handle email correspondence and respond to any phone calls.
• 2 p.m.: Resolve technical issues and implement solutions to minimize the chance of it happening again.
• 3 p.m.: Mentor any up-and-coming teammates.
• 4 p.m.: Monitor and maintain computer networks, looking out for potential risks.
• 5 p.m.: Take a deep breath and clock out.

Where Security Software Developers Work

Various industries need software developers who can create security measures during the software development process. Security software developers often earn more working in the private sector versus public companies.

That said, government agencies have a greater need for cybersecurity. Employers hire security software developers to work in:

• Education
• Fortune 500 Companies
• Technology
• Fiance
• Healthcare
• Media
• Start-Ups

Security software developer jobs vary by industry and location. States and cities that have initiatives to increase cybersecurity may have more job opportunities for developers in the public sector. Metropolitan areas with greater a concentration of finance or Fortune 500 companies, often also need more security software developers.

Where you work — what sector and region —influences your job responsibilities and pay. California compensates software developers the best, with an average annual wage of $182,570, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

California also has the highest employment level of software developers, while Washington, D.C., New York, and Los Angeles have some of the highest demand for security software developers.

According to research from Electric, the states with the highest need for cybersecurity talent were Florida and Georgia, specifically in Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta.

How to Prepare for a Career as a Security Software Developer

Everyone’s path to become a security software developer looks different, but in every scenario you need to complete education and training to gain computer programming and cybersecurity skills. Many security software developers earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related major. Others get their education from cybersecurity bootcamps.

Online security software developers can pursue a four-year computer science degree. Software security certifications offered through professional organizations and colleges give you the specialized software security skills.

Internships can provide you with additional experience to land your first entry-level job. The pursuit of a software security career requires perseverance, especially during the education phase and on the job when tasks get repetitive.

If you are juggling a career or family life, look for a program that offers convenience. For example, part-time programs or online degrees provide more flexibility to study on your own time.

Professional Spotlight: Vikram Bodicherla: Staff Software Engineer, WhatsApp

1. What's a typical day like for you?

I am usually involved in a couple of large projects at any point – some exploratory based on some threats or proposed product changes, some in design phase and some in execution. I’d like to keep them balanced in a 10%-20%-70% configuration as much as possible.

A typical day consists of about 1-2 hours of scheduled meetings to understand various features, designing threat models and preemptive solutions. I spend about 2-3 hours in ad-hoc conversations with my team members on brainstorming, discussing ideas and reviewing RFCs (we capture all ideas and proposals as an RFC or a Request For Comment which is used to provide feedback).

I spend around 3-4 hours in heads down work: Writing and reviewing code and RFCs. This is when I usually go silent and off the grid.

I also spend around 30 minutes per day supporting my team with their questions, providing mentorship and other ad-hoc things like project planning and management.

2. What other teams do you work with on a regular basis?

I have three sides to my interactions: Various engineering teams (front-end, back-end, applications) which are building features and functionality for the end-user, research engineers and cryptographers which are building new privacy and security systems and legal, policy and regulatory teams which help us understand our obligations and formulate our commitments to our end-users and regulators.

I also work with our leadership teams to help define our goals and deliverables and provide updates on progress.

3. Is there a lot of collaboration in your role? Or is it mostly independent work?

Security and privacy engineering is inherently a very collaborative field. You are working with all your partners to understand, assess and design security solutions. You are almost always working to secure stuff built by someone else, so it’s very important to work with them to retain the context and value proposition of the product and not let security and privacy protections come in the way.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a heads down part to it – once you understand the problem space for a certain product, you are heads down devising the threat model and devising solutions.

4. Do you work in an office or from home (or a hybrid)?

I work in a hybrid setup, three days at work and two days from home. My work days are usually heavy on collaboration while the home days are heads-down days.

5. What's your favorite part of being a security software developer? The most challenging part?

My favorite part is the satisfaction that we are contributing towards a safer experience for all the Internet users (it’s probably the closest that I’ll ever feel to how a cop probably feels towards their community). The space is also very exciting; trying to find weaknesses and creatively seal them before the bad guys get to them is a lot of fun. There are some wonderful upcoming challenges – like the rapid adoption of Generative AI and Quantum Computing – a decade down the line.

The most challenging part is the true vastness of the space. There’s no start or end to this, it’s really about how creative you can get about the various threats out there, how well you can assess the possible impact of them and how effectively you can implement a practical solution in a holistic way. You are learning and adapting every minute of your journey. There’s no one-size-fits-all. Which is also what makes it fun!

6. Any other insights about your day-to-day tasks as a security software developer that may help people considering this career path?

First and foremost, this is a super relevant field, and [it] is growing by the day. With the explosion of private user data being plugged into all online systems, it’s more important than ever to secure these systems and many companies are investing heavily in the space. Users today are very sensitive to where and how their data is used. There will be an explosion of importance in this field as more users interface with the Internet in more ways: smart home devices, AI bots, self-driving cars and more. In many smaller companies, you might end up becoming an SME sooner than a regular software developer since there aren’t usually as many security engineers.

I find security and privacy engineering to be a good mix of social, psychological, financial, legal, regulatory and technical aspects coming together. As you advance through this field, you will slowly build a good appreciation of how all these factors playout in the digital world today.

The flipside is that you often don’t build features you can show your friend. You are going against the stream a little bit, asking teams to slow down and think about privacy and safety of their system.

7. For whom do you think this career is a good fit? Why?

Anyone who’s motivated by the problems in the space of privacy and security, is technical, collaborative, and is willing to learn and iterate is a good first candidate. Then ask yourself the following questions

• Would you be okay not being the one building fancy new features, but instead being the one asking them to slow down and think about safety and privacy?
• Can you bring a protectionist mindset to your job? And obsess over your users' rights and protections? Will you be comfortable taking a stand for your users' safety?
• Will you enjoy being a part of a lot of conversations as a safety and privacy consultant instead of focusing on a few problem spaces for a long time?
• Will you enjoy working with legal, policy and regulatory teams on the product and its privacy and security provisions? Will you be interested in getting comfortable understanding and appreciating various laws and provisions across the world?
• Will you be interested in proactively learning from external and internal resources and mentors? I believe that there’s a lot more self-learning for a security and privacy engineer than in traditional software engineering roles.

If you are not sure, take a few online classes, try out a project or two at work, and mentally play out the role of a security engineer and hopefully you will know!

Learn More About Security Software Developers

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How to Become a Security Software Developer

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Salary and Career Outlook for Security Software Developers

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Certifications for Security Software Developers

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FAQ About the Daily Tasks of Security Software Developers